Combination clothes washer and drier



June 4, 1963 J. A. TAYLOR ETAL 3,091,955 COMBINATION CLOTHES WASHER AND DRIER Filed on. 26, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN V5 N TORS J02? C fay/0r Ham/5y R 7Zzck 7715 IR ATTOR/Vfy June 1963 .1. A. TAYLOR ETAL COMBINATION CLOTHES WASHER AND DRIER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 26, 1961 3,091,955 COMBINATION CLOTHES WASHER AND DEER John A. Taylor, Detroit, Mich., and Harvey R. Tuck, Trotwood, Ohio, assignors to General Motors Corporation, Detroit, Mich a corporation of Delaware Filed Oct. 26, 1961, Ser. No. 147,844 Claims. (CI. 68-19) This invention relates to a domestic appliance and more particularly to an improved combination washer and dryer.

The prior art is comprised primarily of combination washer-dryers having a tumbling drum rotatable about a horizontal axis for washing as well as drying. It is generally recognized, however, that an oscillatable agitator in a vertically oriented tub provides a more satisfactory washing result. The horizontal tub has a limited spin speed and this results in high water retention by the fabrics-- a fact which leads to a longer total washing and drying cycle. In addition, vibration during spin even at the lower spin speeds is usually severe. Where cooling water is used to condense moisture from the circulating drying air in such prior art machines, high water usage results, again due to the large amount of water which is retained by clothes centrifuged in a horizontal drum. In view of the prolonged drying time, there is little possibility of utilizing a 110 volt power supply for this prior art machine, i.e. 220 volt power is advisable if the total drying time is to be kept within reasonable bounds. The development of this invention for a vertical tub combination has overcome many of the disadvantages of the prior art horizontal tub machines. A superior washing action results in a vertical tub when provided with either a pulsator or a rotary oscillator. The spin speed in a vertical tub can exceed 1,000 rpm. to remove the maximum possible amount of water during centrifuging. The total wash and dry cycle time for a vertical tub machine can be almost half as long as that for a horizontal tub appliance. And this efiect can be obtained in a vertical tub combination which has approximately the same outer dimensions as the present clothes Washers alone. Water usage for condensing during drying will be at a minimum because of the short drying cycle resulting from the low water retention at the conclusion of spin. Lastly, a vertical tub combination can be used equally well on either 110 volts or 220 vol-ts. In such an appliance the total cycle time for washing and drying can be reduced approximately as compared to horizontal tub units, and can be reduced still further by utilizing an adsorbent as an aid to removing moisture from the air and supplying additional heat to the drying air stream.

Accordingly it is an object of this invention to provide a combination washer and dryer with a cloth containing wash and spin tub rotatable about a vertical axis.

A further object of this invention is the provision of a nested pair of vertically rotatable tubs, relatively axially movable with respect to each other to selectively engage the inner tub with a prime mover for reciprocating the inner tub.

It is a more specific object of this invention to provide a combination washer-dryer with a vertically reciprocable spin tub having a vertically reciprocable hollow agitator therein, means including a Weight responsive clutch for sequentially reciprocating said agitator when said tub is full of water for washing and for reciprocating said tub when said tub is empty for drying, and means for inducing an air stream through said agitator and said tub during said drying.

A further object of this invention is the provision of a nested pair of relatively movable vertical tubs and means for selectively rotating or reciprocating said tubs,

3,091,955 Patented June 4, 1963 one of said tubs being adapted to contain water, the weight of said water affecting the selective connection of said tubs.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings wherein a preferred embodiment of the present invention is clearly shown.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a schematic sectional view of this invention taken along line 1-1 in FIGURE 2 with the spin and bounce tub engaged for reciprocation;

FIGURE 2 is a top elevational view of the combination washer-dryer;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of the bouncing tub clutch mechanism with the tub disengaged from the agitate shaft to remain stationary for a wash cycle; and

FIGURE 4 is a sectional view of the clutch mechanism taken along line 44 in FIGURE 3.

In accordance with this invention and with reference to FIGURE 1 a combination washer and dryer is illustrated as 10. The combination appliance 10 is formed with a generally box-like outer casing 12 having generally central bulkhead portions 14 and 16 separating the cabinet into a lower machinery compartment 18 and an upper Washing and drying compartment for retaining the components necessary to provide washing and drying. More particularly, the upper compartment includes a generally cylindrical container or bulkhead 20 within which a spin tub assembly shown generally at 22 is adapted for rotation about a vertical axis and yieldably carried on a flexible hat member 24 secured to the bulkhead 16. The top wall 26 of the casing is formed with a generally central opening 28 closed by hingedly mounted door 30. The door 30 is hollow and provides in the hollow thereof a door duct 32 extending from a corner wall 34 of the door through a bottom wall 36 of the door.

The spin tub assembly 22 is comprised of an outer tub 40 having a top opening 42 in axial alignment with the opening 28 in the appliance cabinet. The outer tub 40 is formed with a balancing ring 44 radially inwardly of a plurality of outflow ports 46 circumferentially arranged around the top of the spin tub 40. A drain outlet 48 is provided in the bottom of the tub 40 as a weep hole for fluids passing accidentally between the sliding fluid seals separating the outer tub 40 from the inner tub 50 and the inner tub from the agitator shaft 104.

The inner tub 50 is snugly nested within the outer tub 40 and includes an annular seal or frictional member 52 around the top rim thereof to prevent egress of fluid from the inner tub to the outer tub along the point where their cylindrical Walls are nested together. Similarly an annular seal 53 resists leakage around the agitate shaft 104 The inner tub 50 is formed with a generally central inwardly directed shoulder 54 which acts as a bafie for agitating the clothes during drying as will be understood more fully hereinafiter. A false bottom or circular partition 56 in the inner tub serves to separate the inner tub into an air passage chamber 58 and a clothes agitation chamber 60.

An agitator assembly 62 is disposed within the tubs 40 and 50 and is comprised of a hollow cylindrical support member 64 carried on a spider or cross bar 66 and adapted to support a plurality of flexible rubber diaphragms '68 along the length thereof. A lower imperforate bellows 70 interconnects the lower end of the pulsator support collar 64 and an upturned collar 72 on the partition 56. The bellows 70 provides a collapsible air duct between the hollow '74 of the pulsator and the chamber 58 of the inner tub-the nature of the bellows permitting the inner tub and pulsator to move relatively.

At the upper end of the pulsator 62 is an imperforate upper bellows 76 which connects with the hollow 74 of the pulsator and is biased by its inherent resiliency into sealing engagement with the bottom wall 36 of the door when the door is closed. This places the door duct 32, the hollow 74 of the pulsatorand the inner tub air chamber 58 in series air flow relationship as shown by the air flow arrows. A restricted area of perforations 30 in the partition 56 serves to interconnect in air flow relationship the inner tub chambers 58 and 60.

Water is supplied to the spin tub assembly 22 by means of a chute 84 which channels wash and rinse water from a water supply nozzle 86 and water valve 88 to the tub assembly. Water is also supplied by a valve 89 to an annular water pipe ring 90 which extends about the inside of the cylindrical water container 20 at a point approximately level with [the top of the spin tub assembly 22.. The bottom of the pipe is provided with a plurality of holes or nozzles to effect a spray of cool condensing water into the space between the water container 20 and the spin tub assembly 22. As will be described more fully the condensing spray serves to remove moisture from the recirculating air during drying.

An agitating and spinning mechanism or drive means 100 is disposed in the machinery compartment 18 and is carried on a tubular housing 102 suspended from the hat shaped support member 24 on the bulkhead 16. In general the agitating and spinning mechanism 100 is comprised of an agitate shaft 104 connected to the spider 66 and a spin shaft 106 secured as at 107 to the bottom wall of the outer spin tub 40. A two speed reversible motor 108 is attached through a belt and pulley arrangement 110 to a motion translating mechanism 112 to effect selectively either a rotation of the spin shaft 106 or vertical reciprocation of the agitate shaft 104. This mechanism is taught more fully in the patent to Sisson et a1. 2,974,542 issued on March 14, 1961, and to which reference may be had for a full understanding of the operation of one agitating and spinning mechanism suitable for use with this invention. The motor 108 may drive a pump 114 which receives waste water from the water container 20 through a conduit 116 and directs the waste to drain by way of a drain conduit 1 18.

One aspect of this invention involves the selective reciprocation of the'inner tub 50 during drying and the clutch mechanism shown generally as 120 now be described with reference to FIGURE 3. The clutch assembly 120 is comprised of a sleeve 122 attached firmly to the pulsate shaft 104 and including an annular groove 124 for locking the pulsate shaft 104 to the inner tub 50. To accomplish this interlocking the clutch assembly 120 is formed with a journal bracket 126 attached to the bottom wall of the inner tub 50. A bell crank 128 is pivotally carried on another bnacket130 also on the bottom wall of the inner tub. and has a first arm'132 extending into selective engagement with the bottom wall of the outer tub and a second arm 134 having a lost mot-ion slot 136 which interconnects with a detent 140 through a slide link 142. Thus whenever the water valve 88 is, energized to fill theinner' tub with water, the weight of the water (99-100 lbs.) will compress a coni-' cal coil spring 146 interposed between the inner and outer tubsto actuate the bell crank 128 and remove the detent 140 from the groove 124 (as shown in FIGURE 3). This action releases the inner tub from the pulsate shaft 104 so that the tub can remain stationary while the pulsator 62 is reciprocated for washing clothes. Conversely, when water is centrifuged or spun from the inner tub 50 through the outflow ports 46, the weight in the inner tub is reduced and the spring 146 biases the bottom wall of the inner tub away from the bottom wall of the outer tub. Such relative axial tub movement causes the detent140 to reengage the lock channel 124 in the sleeve 122 and the pulsate shaft 104 is thereby locked into reciprocating driving engagement with the inner tub 50. It should be understood that any clutch arrangement for selectively engaging the inner tub for bouncing would fall within the purview of this invention. For instance, the compression of the spring 146 could effect an angular displacement of the inner tub. This angular displacement could then disengage the sleeve 122 from the tub and permit pulsing of the shaft 104 alone.

The closed air system of this invention will be described in connection with FIGURE 1. In the left rear corner of the casing 12 is supported a blower having an impeller 150 rotated in a scroll by a blower motor 152. The inlet to the impeller is through a louvered inlet opening 154 in the side of the water container 20. A duct 156 enclosing either a 110 or 220 volt heater 158 interconnects with the door duct 32 when the door 30 is closed a seal 160 between the ducts 158 and 32 and a seal 161 between door and cabinet serving to prevent air leakage. Thus a closed circuit drying air flow system is provided as follows. From the impeller 150 past the heater 158 in the duct 156, the air is propelled through the door duct 32 and the hollow 74 of the pulsator to the air chamber 58 in the bottom of the inner tub. This drying air enters the flufhng or agitating portion 60 of the inner tub and provides a gentle bias to fabric passing over the perforations 80. The air leaves the outer tub 40 over the top rim thereof and through the outflow ports 46 and returns to the impeller 150 through the inlet louver 1S4. Curved bafiies or separators (not shown) may be disposed in an inlet duct leading to the blower inlet to collect mist by rapidly changing the direction of the air. The heavier water mist is deposited on the battles as the air direction is reversed and may be subsequently pumped to drain. During the time that air is being recirculated, cool water is sprayed from the pipe to condense entrained moisture from the drying air as it leaves the outer tub 40. The condensate .thus formed and any accumulated lint is then removed from the appliance by means of the conduit 116 and the pump 114.

In operation the door 30 of the combination washerdryer is opened and clothing distributed on the partition 56 in the inner tub 50. Water is directed to the spin tub assembly 22 until the inner tub S0 is substantially full-the seals 52 and 53 minimizing leakage from the inner tub to the outer tub. As the inner tub is filled it is depressed by the weight of the water and the clutch 120 disengages the inner tub from the pulsate shaft 104. When the motor 108 is energized to drive the mechanism as taught in the aforementioned Sisson patent, the pulsator 62 will be recipro'cated vertically in a stationary tub 50 to perform a conventional clothes Washing action.

At the conclusion of wash the agitating and spinning mechanism will be conditioned for spin and the spin tub assembly 22 will be rotated at high speed through the spin shaft 106 to centrifuge water from the inner tub and the clothes through the outflow ports 46. This Water ilivlill be pumped from the water container 20 by the pump The total cycle concludes with a drying cycle. As the centrifuging portion of the total cycle is completed, the removal of water will lighten the tub to cause the clutch to engage the inner tub 50 with the pulsate shaft'104. At the same time the impeller motor 152 and the heater 158 are energized to commence the drying cycle. The condensing Water may also be supplied through the pipe 90 throughout the drying cycle by energizing the valve 89. With the mechanism 100 energized to reciprocate or bounce continuously the inner tub 50 the circulating air will provide a gently clothes biasing flow of air through the perforations 80 which, in combination with the bouncing tub will find the clothes in the compartment 60 during the drying cycle. The shoulder or bafiie 54 also aids in the fiuffing action.

The foregoing construction has been designed to provide satisfactory laundry results. However, in order to improve redistribution of the clothes during the drying cycle it may be advisable to selectively energize the mechanism for an occasional spinning action. For example after a short drying interval, say eight minutes, the vertical tub pulsing could be stopped and the tub brought partially to full spin speed for ten to twenty seconds. Such intermittent action will help in preventing the clothes from lumping together.

It should now be seen that an improved combination washer-dryer has been provided wherein a nested tub arrangement is provided to effect a bouncing or flufiing action on the part of one of the tubs in conjunction with a heating air flow to dry clothes in a vertically oriented spin tub.

While the embodiment of the present invention as herein disclosed, constitutes a preferred form, it is to be understood that other forms might be adopted.

What is claimed is as follows:

1. A combination clothes washer-dryer comprising means forming a case having an access opening, an outer tub in said case rotatable about a vertical axis and having an open top in axial alignment with said access opening, a door for closing said access opening, means forming an air passageway through said door, an inner tub nested relatively slidably within said outer tub and having a perforated partition spaced from the bottom thereof to form an upper wash and dry chamber and a lower air chamber, said inner tub including a frictional member in engagement with said outer tub to cause said tubs to rotate together, a hollow agitator in said inner tub adapted for vertical reciprocation and having an inlet and an outlet, a first yieldable duct for interconnecting said air chamber to the outlet of said hollow agitator and communicating with said wash and dry chamber through the perforations of said partition, a second yieldable duct for interconnecting said air passageway in said door with said inlet to said hollow agitator, means for supplying water to said wash and dry chamber for washing, agitating and spinning means for sequentially reciprocating said hollow agitator in said wash and dry chamber and said water during a wash cycle to wash said clothes, spinning said tubs during a centrifuging cycle to remove the water from said wash and dry chamber and said clothes, and vertically reciprocating said inner tub during a drying cycle to fluif said clothes, and means for inducing and conveying a heated air stream sequentially through said air passageway in said door, said hollow agitator, said air chamber, said perforations and said wash and dry chamber during a drying cycle.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein said agitating and spinning means includes clutch means responsive to the weight of the contents within said inner tub for conditioning said inner tub for vertical reciprocaton.

3. A combination clothes washer-dryer comprising means forming a case having an access opening, an outer tub in said case rotatable about a vertical axis and having an open top in axial alignment with said access opening, a door for closing said access opening, means forming an air passageway through said door having a passageway inlet and a passageway outlet, an inner tub nested relatively slidably within said outer tub and having a perforated partition spaced from the bottom thereof to form an upper wash and dry chamber and .a lower air chamber, said partition having an air supply port, a hollow agitator in said inner tub adapted for vertical reciprocation and having an inlet end in spaced adjacent relationship to said passageway outlet and an outlet end in spaced adjacent relationship to said air supply port, a first yieldable bellows connected to said supply port for interconnecting said air chamber to the outlet end of said hollow agitator and communicating with said wash and dry chamber through the perforations of said partition, a second yieldable bellows connected to said inlet end and extending toward said passageway outlet when said door is closed for interconnecting said air passageway in said door with said hollow agitator, means for supplying water to said wash and dry chamber for washing, means having a reciprocable portion connected to said hollow agitator and a rotatable portion connected to said outer tub for sequentially reciprocating said hollow agitator in said wash and dry chamber and said water during a wash cycle to wash said clothes, spinning said outer tub during a centrifuging cycle to remove the water from said wash and dry chamber and said clothes, and vertically reciprocating said inner tub relative to said case during a drying cycle to fluff said clothes, said last named means including clutch means responsive to the weight of said water for connecting said inner tub to said reciprocable portion, and means connected to said passageway inlet for inducing a closed circuit heated .air stream sequentially through said air passageway in said door, said hollow agitator, said air chamber, said perforations, said wash and dry chamber and said inducing means during a drying cycle.

4. The combination of claim 2 including means for spraying a cooling medium into moisture condensing relationship with said closed circuit air stream to remove moisture entrained by said air stream while passing through said wash and dry chamber.

5. A combination clothes washer-dryer comprising means forming a case having an access opening, an outer tub in said case rotatable about a vertical axis and having an open top in axial alignment with said access opening, a door for closing said access opening, means forming an air passageway in communication with said open top, an inner tub nested relatively slidably within said outer tub and having a perforated partition spaced from the bottom thereof to form an upper wash and dry chamber and a lower air chamber, a hollow agitator in said inner tub adapted for vertical reciprocation and having an inlet and an outlet, 21 first yieldable duct for interconnecting said air chamber to the outlet of said hollow agitator and communicating with said wash and dry chamber through the perforations of said partition, a second yieldable duct for interconnecting said air passageway with said inlet to said hollow agitator, means for supplying water to said wash and dry chamber for washing, means for sequentially reciprocating said hollow agitator in said wash and dry chamber and said water during a wash cycle to wash said clothes, spinning said tubs during a centrifuging cycle to remove the water from said wash and dry chamber and said clothes, and vertically reciprocating said inner tub during a drying cycle to fluff said clothes, and means for inducing a heated air stream sequentially through said air passageway in said door, said hollow agitator, said air chamber, said perforations and said wash and dry chamber during a drying cycle.

6. A clothes dryer comprising an open top container means for retaining clothes to be dried, said container means having a horizontal partition separating said container means into an upper clothes drying portion and a lower air passage portion, said partition having perforations interconnecting said clothes drying portion with said air passage portion, drive means for selectively r-otating said container means for centrifuging liquids from said clothes to be dried, and means for supplying air to said air passage portion for producing an air flow from said air passage portion through said perforations to said clothes drying portion, said drive means including means for vertically reciprocating said container means concurrently with said air flow and after said centrifuging, thereby to bounce said clothes into air flufiing relationship with the air flow through said perforations.

7. A dryer comprising container means for retaining items to be dried, said container means having a partition separating said container means into a drying portion and an air passage portion, air passage means in said partition interconnecting said drying portion with said air passage portion, drive means for rotating said container means for centrifuging liquids from said items to be dried, and means for effecting an air flow from said air 7 passage portion'through said air passage means to said dryingportion, said drive means including means for rec'iprocating said container means concurrently with said air flow and after said centrifuging, thereby to bounce said items into air fiufling relationship with the air flow through said air passage means.

8. A clothes dryer comprising means forming a case, an open top outer tub in said case rotatable about a generally vertical axis, a door for closing said open top, means forming an air passageway through said door, an inner tub nested relatively slidably within said outer tub in frictional engagement therewith and having a perforated partition spaced from the bottom thereof to form an upper spin and dry chamber and a lower air chamber, a hollow duct in said inner tub having a yieldable inlet end and a yieldable outlet end, said yieldable outlet end connected to said partition in series air flow relationship to said air chamber and the perforations of said partition, said yieldable inlet end connected in series air flow relationship to said air passageway in said door, means for sequentially spinning said tubs during a centrifuging cycle to remove a first amount of fluid from said spin and dry chamber and said clothes and for generally vertically reciprocating said inner tub during a drying cycle to fluff said clothes, and means for inducing a heated air stream sequentially through said air passageway in said door, said hollow duct, said air chamber, said perforations and said spin and dry chamber during a drying cycle to remove a second amount of fluid from said spin and dry chamber and said clothes.

9. A fabric dryer comprising means forming a case, an open top outer tub in said case rotatable about a generally vertical axis, a door for closing said open top, means forming an air passageway above said outer tub, an inner tub nested relatively slidably within said outer tub and having a perforated partition spaced from the bottom thereof to form an upper spin and dry chamber and a lower air chamber, a hollow duct in said inner tub having a yield'abl'eiinlet end and an outlet end, said outlet end connected toys-aid partition in series air flow relationship to said air chamber and the perforations of said partition, said yieldable inlet end connected in series air flow relationship to said air passageway, means for sequentially spinning said tubs during a centrifuging cycle to remove a first amount of fluid from said spin and dry chamber and said fabric and for generally vertically reciprocating said inner tub during a drying cycle to fluff said fabric, and means for inducing an air stream sequentially through said air passageway, said hollow duct, said air chamber, said perforations and said spin and dry chamber during a drying cycle to remove a second amount of fluid from said spin and dry chamber and said fabric.

10. A fabric dryer comprising means forming a case, an open top outer tub in said case rotatable about a generally vertical axis, means forming a relatively stationary air passageway above said outer tub, an inner tub relatively axially movably supported in said outer tub and having a perforated partition spaced from the bottom thereof to form an upper spin and dry chamber and a lower air chamber, a hollow duct in said inner tub having a yieldable inlet end and an outlet end, said outlet end connected to said partition in series air flow relationship to said air chamber and the perforations of said partition, said yieldable inlet end connected in series air flow relationship to said air passageway, means for sequentially spinning said tub during a centrifuging cycle to remove a first amount of fluid from said spin and dry chamber and said fabric and for generally vertically reciprocating said inner tub during a drying cycle to fluff said clothes, and means for inducing an air stream sequentially through said air passageway, said hollow duct, said air chamber, said perforations and said spin and dry chamber during a drying cycle to remove a second amount of fluid from said spin and dry chamber and said fabric.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,652,276 Gregg Dec. 13, 1927 2,439,215 Lund Apr. 6, 1948 2,737,799 Knipmeyer Mar. 13, 1956 2,782,622 Candor Feb. 26, 1957 2,885,877 Denker May 12, 1959 2,972,197 Mickus et a1. Feb. 21, 1961 

7. A DRYER COMPRISING CONTAINER MEANS FOR RETAINING ITEMS TO BE DRIED, SAID CONTAINER MEANS HAVING A PARTITION SEPARATING SAID CONTAINER MEANS INTO A DRYING PORTION AND AN AIR PASSAGE PORTION, AIR PASSAGE MEANS IN SAID PARTITION INTERCONNECTING SAID DRYING PORTION WITH SAID AIR PASSAGE PORTION, DRIVE MEANS FOR ROTATING SAID CONTAINER MEANS FOR CENTRIFUGING LIQUIDS FROM SAID ITEMS TO BE DRIED, AND MEANS FOR EFFECTING AN AIR FLOW FROM SAID AIR PASSAGE PORTION THROUGH SAID AIR PASSAGE MEANS TO SAID DRYING PORTION, SAID DRIVE MEANS INCLUDING MEANS FOR RECIPROCATING SAID CONTAINER MEANS CONCURRENTLY WITH SAID AIR FLOW AND AFTER SAID CENTRIFUGING, THEREBY TO BOUNCE SAID ITEMS INTO AIR FLUFFING RELATIONSHIP WITH THE AIR FLOW THROUGH SAID AIR PASSAGE MEANS. 